Holder for holding portable electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A holder for holding portable electronic devices includes a main support body being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an upwardly extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a top surface; a main support member being hingedly secured to a rear end of the main support body, the main support member being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a front surface; a support leg being hingedly secured to a transverse part of a back of the main support member, the support leg being a rectangular rigid plate; and at least one connecting strap each extending from a bottom edge of the support leg to be releasably secured to a back of the main support body, thereby adjusting a tilt angle of the support leg with respect to the main support member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to holding devices and more particularly to a holder for securely holding one or two portable electronic devices with improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

A wide variety of electronic products are commercially available due to the advancement of science and technology. One important feature of these products is that they are portable. Such portable electronic devices include, but not limited to, cellular phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), palm type game machines, and tablet computers. Moreover, for laptops its keyboard is thin and may incorporate a touch pad or a trackball. These portable electronic devices may be actuated by wire (e.g., USB (universal serial bus)) or wireless (e.g., RF (radio frequency) or Bluetooth) technology.

These portable electronic devices are relatively expensive and advanced products. Thus, how to protect them in transport or use is an important issue. There are many different types of product for protecting portable electronic devices are available in the market. However, such products are disadvantageous because they are inferior in quality, not durable, awkward to carry, inconvenience in use, etc. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a holder for holding portable electronic devices comprising a main support body being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an upwardly extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a top surface; a main support member being hingedly secured to a rear end of the main support body, the main support member being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a front surface; a support leg being hingedly secured to a transverse part of a back of the main support member, the support leg being a rectangular rigid plate; and at least one connecting strap each extending from a bottom edge of the support leg to be releasably secured to a back of the main support body, thereby adjusting a tilt angle of the support leg with respect to the main support member.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, two portable electronic devices to be held thereon;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the holder but viewing from an opposite angle;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the holder with both the portable electronic devices being held thereon in an open position;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIG. 3 showing the holder being collapsed for saving storage space;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a holder according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support leg and the connecting member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 6 viewing from a rear, bottom direction;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the holder being collapsed for saving storage space;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a holder according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the holder of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a holder according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the holder of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1 with one portable electronic device being rested upon the tilted main support member and the other portable electronic device being retained in the recess of the main support body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a holder 10 for holding portable electronic devices in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a main support body 11, a main support member 16, and a support leg 19 as discussed in detail below.

The main support body 11 is a rectangular rigid plate. The main support body 11 has an upwardly extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange 12. A rectangular recess 121 is defined by the flange 12. The flange 12 is made of elastomeric material so that an electronic input device 50 may be retained in the recess 121. The electronic input device 50 can be a thin keyboard incorporating a touch pad or a trackball. A back 13 of the main support body 11 is provided with a plurality of disc magnetic members 131. A flexible hinge 15 is provided on a rear edge of the main support body 11. The main support member 16 extends outward from the hinge 15 so that the main support member 16 may be closed onto the main support body 11 or open with respect to the main support body 11 by pivoting about the hinge 15.

The main support member 16 is a rectangular rigid plate. The main support member 16 has an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange 17. A rectangular recess 171 is defined by the flange 17. The flange 17 is made of elastomeric material so that an electronic processing device 60 may be retained in the recess 171. The electronic processing device 60 can be a cellular phone, a PDA, or a tablet computer. The support leg 19 is provided on a transverse central portion of a back 18 of the main support member 16.

The support leg 19 is a rectangular rigid plate. The support leg 19 comprises a top edge 192 hingedly secured to the transverse central portion of the back 18 of the main support member 16 by stitching. A bottom edge 191 of the support leg 19 is adapted to rest upon a planar surface (e.g., desk top). A straight connecting strap 14 extends from a central portion of the bottom edge 191. The other open end portion of the connecting strap 14 is provided with a plurality of spaced disc magnetic members 141 so that the connecting strap 14 may be secured to the back 13 of the main support body 11 by magnetically adhering to the disc magnetic member 131. Positions of the disc magnetic members 141 secured to the back 13 can be adjusted as desired. Thus, a tilt angle of the support leg 19 with respect to the main support member 16 can be adjusted. This arrangement enables a user to comfortably view the electronic processing device 60 in an optimum tilt angle. Alternatively, the connecting strap 14 and the back 13 of the main support body 11 may be implemented as a hook and hoop fastener for saving cost and other beneficial purposes.

In the invention, the electronic input device 50 and the electronic processing device 60 can be communicated by wire (e.g., USB) or wireless (e.g., RF or Bluetooth) technology.

For closing the holder 10, a user may unfasten the connecting strap 14 and then clockwise pivot same to engage the support leg 19 with the back 18 of the main support member 16. Also, engage the main support member 16 with the main support body 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Next, continuously clockwise pivot the connecting strap 14 and bent same until one of the disc magnetic members 141 is secured to one of the disc magnetic members 131 with the connecting strap 14 being tightly stretched (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Both the electronic processing device 60 and the electronic input device 50 are protected by the holder 10 in a storage position.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, a holder 20 for holding portable electronic devices in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following:

The holder 20 comprises a main support body 21, a main support member 26, and a support leg 29 as discussed in detail below. The support leg 29 is a rectangular rigid plate. The support leg 29 comprises a bottom edge 293 adapted to rest upon a planar surface (e.g., desk top). A rectangular connecting plate 25 has one end hingedly secured to the bottom edge 293. The other end of the connecting plate 25 is connected to the back of the main support body 21. The support leg 29 further comprises a curved member 292 on a center of a top edge, and a transverse ridge 291 on one end of the curved member 292. The curved member 292 is shaped to complimentarily engage with an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange 27 of the main support member 26 when the holder 20 is closed in a storage position (see FIG. 9). The ridge 291 is adapted to insert in one of a plurality of parallel grooves 261 on the back of the main support member 26. The ridge 291 can be retained by any one of the grooves 261 means that the electronic processing device 60 on the main support member 26 can be disposed in different angles with respect to the main support body 21 (i.e., different tilt angles). This arrangement enables a user to comfortably view the electronic processing device 60 in an optimum tilt angle.

A rectangular rigid plate 28 is fixedly provided on a lower portion of the main support member 26 just between the grooves 261 and the bottom edge of the main support member 26. The connecting plate 25 is adapted to rest upon the rigid plate 28 when the holder 20 is closed. Moreover, a closed elastic strap 23 may be used to wrap around the front portions of the main support body 21 and the main support member 26 in the closed position of the holder 20 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The provision of the elastic strap 23 can ensure the holder 20 and the device(s) (e.g., electronic input device 50 and/or electronic processing device 60) being retained in a protected state.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a holder 30 for holding portable electronic devices in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the third preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following:

The holder 30 comprises a main support body 31, a main support member 36, and two spaced, parallel support legs 39 as discussed in detail below. The support leg 39 is a rectangular plate. The support leg 39 comprises a pivot 392 on a top edge adapted to hingedly secure to a back of the main support member 36. A bottom end of the support leg 39 is adapted to rest upon a planar surface (e.g., desk top). This means that tilt angle of the electronic processing device 60 on the main support member 36 with respect to the main support body 31 can be adjusted (i.e., different tilt angles). This arrangement enables a user to comfortably view the electronic processing device 60 in an optimum tilt angle. Moreover, an intermediate disc magnetic member 393 is provided on the support leg 39. The disc magnetic member 393 is adapted to adhere to one of two transversely spaced disc magnetic members 361 when the support leg 39 is engaged with a back of the main support member 36 in a storage position of the holder 30.

Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, a holder 40 for holding portable electronic devices in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the fourth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the third preferred embodiment except the following:

The holder 40 comprises a main support body 41, a main support member 46, and a support leg 49 as discussed in detail below. The support leg 49 is a rod-like member. A pivot pin 47 is provided on a back of the main support member 46. A gear 471, as one portion of a ratchet, is provided on the periphery of the pivot pin 47. the support leg 49 comprises an annular hole 491 at a top end, the hole 491 being put on the gear 471, a pawl 492 provided on the inner surface of the hole 491, a lever 494 distal the pawl 492, and an elastic member (e.g., helical spring) 493 biased between the lever 494 and the back of the pawl 492. The front of the pawl 942 is formed with a plurality of teeth which are adapted to engage with the teeth of the gear 471. A pivoting operation (as indicated by the upper arrow) of the lever 494 may compress the elastic member 493 to push the pawl 492 to pivotably move the gear 471. As such, an angle of the support leg 49 with respect to the main support member 46 is changed. A reverse pivoting operation (as indicated by the lower arrow) will return the lever 494 to its original position with the engagement of the pawl 492 and the gear 471 remained unchanged. The above two steps can be performed repeatedly until a desire tilt angle of the support leg 49 with respect to the main support member 46 is obtained. Further, the bottom end of the support leg 49 is rested upon a planar surface (e.g., desk top). This arrangement enables a user to comfortably view the electronic processing device 60 in an optimum tilt angle.

Referring to FIG. 15, the electronic processing device 60 may be alternatively rested upon the tilted flange 17 and the electronic input device 50 may be retained by the flange 12 in another configuration of use.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A holder for holding portable electronic devices comprising: a main support body being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an upwardly extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a top surface; a main support member being hingedly secured to a rear end of the main support body, the main support member being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a front surface; a support leg being hingedly secured to a transverse part of a back of the main support member, the support leg being a rectangular rigid plate; and at least one connecting strap each extending from a bottom edge of the support leg to be releasably secured to a back of the main support body, thereby adjusting a tilt angle of the support leg with respect to the main support member.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the flange of the main support body defines a rectangular recess for retaining an electronic input device which is a thin keyboard incorporating a touch pad or a trackball; wherein the flange of the main support member defines a rectangular recess for retaining an electronic processing device which is a cellular phone, a PDA, or a tablet computer; and wherein the electronic input device and the electronic processing device can be communicated by wire or wireless.
 3. The holder of claim 1, wherein a top edge of the support leg is hingedly secured to the transverse part of the back of the main support member by stitching, and a bottom edge thereof is adapted to rest upon a planar surface.
 4. The holder of claim 1, wherein the back of the main support body is provided with a plurality of disc magnetic members, and wherein each of the at least one connecting strap is provided with a plurality of spaced disc magnetic members each to be magnetically adhered to one of the disc magnetic members of the back of the main support body.
 5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the back of the main support body is provided with one portions of a plurality of hook and loop fasteners, and wherein each of the at least one connecting strap is provided with the other portions of the hook and loop fasteners each to be releasably secured to one portion of one of the hook and loop fasteners of the back of the main support body.
 6. A holder for holding portable electronic devices comprising: a main support body being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an upwardly extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a top surface; a main support member being hingedly secured to a rear end of the main support body, the main support member being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a front surface and a plurality of parallel grooves on a back; a support leg being hingedly secured to a transverse part of a back of the main support member, the support leg being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising a bottom edge adapted to rest upon a planar surface, a curved member on a central portion of a top edge, and a transverse ridge on one end of the curved member; and a rectangular connecting plate having one end hingedly secured to a bottom edge of the support leg and the other end connected to a back of the main support body.
 7. The holder of claim 6, wherein the curved member is shaped to complimentarily engage with the flange of the main support member when the holder is closed, and wherein the ridge is adapted to insert in one of the grooves, thereby adjusting a tilt angle of the support leg with respect to the main support member.
 8. The holder of claim 6, further comprising a rectangular rigid plate secured to a portion of the back of the main support member between the grooves and a bottom edge of the main support member, and wherein the connecting plate is adapted to rest upon the rigid plate when the holder is closed.
 9. A holder for holding portable electronic devices comprising: a main support body being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an upwardly extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a top surface; a main support member being hingedly secured to a rear end of the main support body, the main support member being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising an extending closed, rectangular, flexible flange on a front surface; and at least one support leg each being hingedly secured to a transverse part of a back of the main support member, each of the at least one support leg being a rectangular rigid plate and comprising a bottom edge adapted to rest upon a planar surface, and a pivot top edge adapted to hingedly secure to a back of the main support member. 